RN Outpatient

Responsibilities

Clinical responsibilities

• Completes the assessment process accurately and timely for consumers including medical checklist, physical health, nutritional screening, consumer and family education screening, medication list, height, weight, and vital signs.
• Responds to consumers’ requests for medication refills.
• Reviews charts for treatment compliance.
• Completes prior authorization forms in a timely manner.
• Provides individual, family and group education regarding consumers’ psychiatric and medical illnesses.
• Administers medications observing the five rights of medication administration.
• Provides medication education for the consumer and family including how the medication is used and potential side effects.
• Monitors consumers for potential side effects of medications and reports findings to a physician.
• Provides care and services in the community.
• Transports needed medical equipment/supplies to conduct job.
• Performs venipuncture for laboratory requests, drug screens, TB skin tests, monitors lab results and reports all abnormal findings to the physician.
• Monitors consumers for potential side effects of medications and reports findings to the physician/CRNP.
• Communicates effectively with the physician/CRNP regarding the consumers’ physical and mental condition
• Follows up on missed injections and documents in consumers’ records appropriately.
• Completes admission procedures for consumers and updates accordingly to AltaPointe’s Policy and Procedures. This process includes at a minimum the medical checklist, AIMS, vital signs, medication list, and MARS is applicable.
• Interacts with consumers and evaluates needs to ensure that proper information is reported during staffing with the treatment team.
• May conduct infection control training for staff and consumers when indicated.
• May provide HIV education.
• When necessary provides nursing coverage to other adult outpatient programs within AltaPointe.
• Interfaces with the multi-disciplinary team.
• Actively and cooperatively participates in development of the interdisciplinary treatment plan.
• Independently provides mental and medical emergency care as needed (CPR, PMAB, emergency medications) according to AltaPointe Policy and Procedures with little/no support.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize the elements of a crisis state and knows how to deescalate or resolve the situation
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize the elements of a crisis state and knows how to deescalate or resolve the situation.
• Assists AOT consumers with medical appointments including attendance at those appointments as needed.
• Provides services to maintain placement in the least restrictive environment.
• Advocates on behalf of the consumer to secure community resources.
• Makes a minimum of one weekly in home contact with consumers.
• Teaches basic living skills relative to medical issues.
• Adheres to professional code of ethics.
• Effectively demonstrates the application of adult specific competencies.

Supervision and consultation

• Seeks clinical supervision and consultation as needed.
• Accepts and employ suggestions for improvement.
• Actively works to enhance case management skills.

Clinical record keeping

• Documents in a timely fashion per AHS policy.
• Documents in a clear, concise manner types of consumer problems, treatment goals and services provided.
• Completes all required forms, logs, notes and other applicable documentation promptly and accurately.
• Writes legibly on handwritten documents.

Case load management

• Effectively manages caseload based on consumers’ needs.
• Meets AHS standard of documentation within 24 hour of service.
• Meets AltaPointe productivity standards.

Courteous and respectful toward consumer, visitors and co-workers

• Treats consumers with care, dignity and compassion.
• Is knowledgeable of HIPAA and abides by those standards at all times.
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others.
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed.
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others.
• Is sensitive to the consumers’ needs, expectations and individual differences.
• Is gentle and clam to consumers and families.
• Works in a dependable, cooperative and positive manner with program and AltaPointe staff members

Administrative and other related duties as assigned

• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities.
• Actively participates in AHS committees.
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Follows AHS policies and procedures.
• Maintains current state license and requirements for renewals.
• Attends required in-services and workshops.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Current RN license to practice in the State of Alabama; valid driver license; reliable transportation; knowledge in adult psychiatric care and/or substance abuse/addictions, outlined below, to be attained within six (6) months of employment:

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population
• Knowledge of general and psychiatric nursing care
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology especially those terms associated with adult psychiatry care
• Familiarity of psychopharmacology and the use of psychotropic medications with the adult population
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to acute psychotic consumers, as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practice
• Knowledge of AOT team standards
• Basic knowledge of available community resources
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with psychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles
• Understanding of behavioral, psychological, physical health and social effects of psychoactive drugs, including alcohol and tobacco on the consumer and their significant others
• Basic teaching and training skills